Means for use in chemical analysis.



JOHN GORDON HUME,

or nous, soornnnn.

MEANS FOR. USE IN CHEMICAL ANALYSIS.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN GORDON HUME, subject of the King of GreatBritain and Ireland, residing at Duns, in the county of Berwick,Scotland, have invented new and useful Improvements in Means for Use inChemical Analysis, of which the following is a specification.

My said invention has for its object to provide means for conductingchemical testing in a simple, convenient and economical manner.

Among other advantages obtained by the use of my invention is that itlends itself specially to extemporaneous (such as clinical or factory)testing, and where testing is undertaken on infinitesimal quantities, itlends itself to general laboratory chemical analysis. Employed in thepractice of medicine, for example, on the urine of a patient, the testmay be made clinically; and employed in connection with any art orindustry the test may be made in situ, at any part of the works orplant, without removal of the sample for testing by existing laboratorymeans, thereby saving much inconvenience and loss of time.

In carrying out my invention the apparatus consists of a capillarv tube,of comparatively small diameter, for example, a tube of about 2 mm.external diameter and 1% mm. internal diameter has been found, bypractice, to give satisfactory results, and the tube is preferably madeof fusible glass. This tube is charged with whatever reagent it isintended to employ, the charging operation being effected by simplyinserting one end of the tube in the reagent which then flows up thetube by capillary attraction. The tube is now held in a horizontalposition to allow of the reagent occupying a central position, and thetube is sealed by fusing each end. The tube thus serves as a convenienthold-er or receptacle for the reagent. To prevent these tubes beingdamaged they are, preferably, carried in a protective cover or casing.

When it is desired to make a test, for example, a clinical test ofurine, the ends of the tube, containin the reagent, are broken off, thusallowing the reagent to fiow back- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 1'7, 1914.

Application filed September 7, 1911. Serial No. 648,239.

ward and forward in the tube. The tube is now tilted or inclined at asuitable angle so that the reagent flows to one end, and, if desired, aportion may be removed by simply bringin it into contact with anyabsorbent material, a suitable quantity to retain will occupy about onefourth the length of the tube. This allows of admitting an equalquantity of urine and enables the operator to observe the reaction in atube which is half-filled. The lower end of the tube is now brought intocontact with the surface of the urine and the latter is drawn up intoits lumen, while the tube is at the same time so inclined andmanipulated that when sufficient has been admitted the tube is raisedout of the urine and brought to a horizontal position. When the urine tobe tested is turbid to the extent of interfering with the observationand recognition of the reaction, it may be filtered by being scooped upout of the vessel in a miniature cone, composed of blotting paper or thelike. A single drop received by the end of the tube from the tip of thefiltering cone is an ample quantity for the test. In all cases specialcare must be taken not to allow air bubbles to interpose between the twofluids. From the general appearance and condition of the combinedcontents of the tube the operator is enabled to draw certainconclusions.

When the application of heat is necessary to complete a test, the ends,or one of the ends, after being carefully freed from moisture is againfused to allow of its being immersed in hot water, or heat may beapplied by simply pouring hot water over the open tube held in ahorizontal position.

What I claim is 1. A device for making chemical analyses or tests,comprising a transparent capillary tube of substantially uniformdiameter throughout its length, the ends of said tube being closed, anda chemical testing reagent contained within said tube. V v

2. A device for making chemical analyses or tests, comprising atransparent capillary tube, the ends of said tube being closed, and achemical testing reagent contained within said tube, said reagent beingout of contact with the ends of said tube.

3. A device for making chemical analyses In testimony whereof I havesigned my or tests, comprising a transparent capillary name to thisspecification in the presence of tube, the ends of said tube beingclosed, and tWo subscribing witnesses.

a chemical testing reagent contained Within i JOHN GORDON HUME.

5 said tube and partially filling the same, the l Witnesses:

portion of the tube not occupied by the rea- GEORGE PATTERSON, gentcontaining air. JAMES VVHITELAW.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

